Henry Cavill comes clean about that shocking Deadpool and Wolverine cameo

*** This article contains SPOILERS about Deadpool and Wolverine. ***

As Marvel Studios’ Deadpool and Wolverine continues to break box office records and inch closer to the 1 billion dollar mark, lead star and the Merc with the Mouth himself, Ryan Reynolds, has released a plethora of spoilers from the film in the form of behind the scene photos, new official stills and more. He wasn't the only one, as a number of actors began acknowledging their roles in the movie with photos of them in it.

Among those new photos was a closer look at one of the film's highly-regarded cameos; we are, of course, talking about "the Cavillrine", a Wolverine variant played by none other than former Superman star Henry Cavill. 

The appearance happens quite quickly during the film's first act, and it’s one that left fans in complete shock as Hugh Jackman portrayed all of the other Wolverine variants throughout the MCU multiverse seen in the film. Still, it’s the dialogue from Deadpool, as a meta jab at how Warner Bros and DC treated Cavill's version of Superman in the DCEU that just added to the moment, highlighting how epic at breaking the fourth wall Deadpool still is.

Henry Cavill acknowledges Deadpool and Wolverine cameo for the first time

The former DCEU actor posted an official image and a comment via his Instagram account, marking the first acknowledgement he has made of his cameo in the movie. The caption reads: “To be safe, I shaved the moustache off for this one. Just the moustache.”

It's a not to subtle nod to his time on Joss Whedon's Justice League, during which CGI had to be used to digitally remove his mustache. The film received widespread criticism for many reasons, but Superman's CGI face was near the top of that list.

Ryan Reynolds also touched upon the creative surprise during a chat with Collider, during which he and director Shawn Levy spoke about how that cameo came together, revealing that it was pretty close in timing to Cavill's departure as Superman from the DCEU. He said:

"I can't think of a more impossible or frustrating role to recast than something like Wolverine," Reynolds noted. "As an actor, that would be an awful and intimidating feeling stepping into that. You'd have to really reinvent it and take it a different way. It was born of, if I had to cast someone as Wolverine and the guy who has made it canon in every way, shape, and form on-screen and off wasn't available for some reason...Henry Cavill."

But Cavill really committed to the role, bringing to life one of the long-awaited fan-castings in the comic book field today (the actor was often fans' pick to play Wolverine in the MCU alongside Daniel Radcliffe). And when we say committed, we really mean committed.

Director Shawn Levy also noted during an interview with The New York Times that Cavill was unwell after filming due to inhaling a cigar for more than eight hours on set: 

"“Not only had that pumped-up muscular body but kept that cigar lit and in his mouth for the entirety of the shoot day. I remember hearing the next day that Henry was sick to his stomach because he had been inhaling cigar smoke for eight hours straight, but never once did he waver.”
"

- Shawn Levy, Director

It was undoubtedly a moment in time that was well worth the wait. Cavill looked every bit as epic as fans hoped he would as Wolverine, making quite the case as to how he could play the role full-time if he were cast in it. It likely won't happen now that the original Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman, is back, but it's definitely awesome that we got to see what the Cavillrine would look like.

Shawn Levy directed Deadpool & Wolverine, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.

Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, and Lauren Shuler Donner produce, with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey, and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is written by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells and Shawn Levy.

Marvel Studios’ Deadpool and Wolverine is currently in theaters.